The Air Force’s 779th Dental Squadron is using new computer design technology to “make dental operations more efficient and to assist Airmen in maintaining dental mission readiness,” according to the U.S Department of Defense’s “Armed with Science” blog.

Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Machining (CAD/CAM) has been used by the Air Force to design everything from mission essential equipment to base facilities. And it is now also being used in the dental clinic to make crowns and other similar tooth restorations.

Most people today don't drive without a seatbelt. Many won't ride a bike, ski or snowboard unless they're wearing a helmet. As we become increasingly conscious of safety in recreational activities, more and more people are looking for ways to prevent accidents and injury. If you participate in sports, there's one excellent way to reduce the risk of oral or facial injury: Get a high-quality mouthguard that fits you just right; then, wear it every time you play.

As parents, we want to do what's best for our kids—things like helping with homework, taking them out to play, and tucking them in at night. Making sure they stay healthy through childhood (and beyond) is another way to show how much we care. When it comes to a child's dental health, most parents understand that brushing with fluoride toothpaste is a proven way to help kids fight cavities—the number one chronic disease in children. But many aren't sure about the specifics: when to start brushing, how much toothpaste to use, and whether fluoride is OK for tots.

Imagine not having to get dressed and travel to the doctor’s office when you’re ill - no sitting in a waiting room and swapping germs with other sick people before getting treatment for whatever bug has taken up residence in your system.

Stand in front of a mirror and stick out your tongue: Chances are you'll see that its moist, bumpy top surface is a healthy pink color. But at one time or another, about one to three percent of the population will notice something different: a tongue covered with a series of smooth, irregularly-shaped reddish patches, often rimmed with white or gray borders. These asymmetrical patches may appear quite suddenly, and may even change shape or position overnight. If you've never seen it before, this can be a scary sight. What's going on?

Now you're pregnant – congratulations! You're seeing your doctor regularly for checkups and ultrasounds; you've got a cozy place prepared and a birth plan all ready to go. But besides all that, have you remembered to keep up with regular trips to the dentist for exams and cleanings?

Imagine being able to get a cavity filled without hearing the scream of a dentist’s drill. Even better, imagine most dental processes being so quick and painless that there’s no need for needle-administered local anesthesia.

It’ll happen soon – assuming your dentist invests in the laser treatment system that was newly approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Some people may think oral cancer isn't that common. They probably don't realize that about 43,000 Americans are diagnosed with this disease every year—and someone in the United States dies from oral cancer every hour of every day. Unfortunately, because the disease is usually in its late stages when it's first detected, the overall 5-year survival rate for oral cancer is only about 57 percent. Wouldn't it be great if there were a simple, inexpensive and non-invasive test that could detect it earlier?

When it comes to Apple products, the question is never “do I need this?” – it’s always “just how badly do I want this?”

And it seems that a lot of people want the new Apple Watch. That’s to be expected. It’s a fun, functional status symbol. Unlike Google Glass, people won’t instantly hate you when they see you wearing it. It’s neither over nor underpriced. But despite all this, we were surprised to see assorted blog posts specifically touting the Apple watch for dentists.

Diabetes is a major health issue in the United States. Affecting some 25.8 million people, or 8.3 percent of the U.S. population, the disease is a major cause of kidney failure, blindness, heart disease and stroke. The association between this malady and gum disease has been revealed in scientific research over several years. Recently, however, some new studies suggest that the danger isn't limited to people who have developed the full-blown disease: Even those who are considered pre-diabetic—a group thought to number perhaps 60-80 million Americans, including half of those over age 65—may be at increased risk for gum disease; at the same time, uncontrolled gum disease may increase their chance of progressing to diabetes.